Tiernan-Locke's ban was announced by world governing body the International Cycling Union last month after he provided irregular blood samples in September 2012. Sky subsequently terminated his contract.

At a hearing last month, the 29-year-old claimed there had been anomalies in his biological passport because he had gone on a drinking binge with his girlfriend to celebrate a new two-year deal with Sky.

But in a statement on Monday, UKAD said: "The explanation provided by the rider ... did not sufficiently explain the abnormal values obtained from the sample".